ALBANY, Ga. -- Staff members at Albany Advocacy Resource Center hope the Nelson Tift building on West Broad Avenue will be packed with fun seekers Thursday evening. If so, it means good things for the agency's preschool program.

The fun begins at 6:30 p.m. at 226 W. Broad Ave. and will include dinner from Moe's, a silent auction and music by Jose Tongol and his band. The event is expected to continue through 9:30 p.m.

Jim Hendricks

Dr. Jose Tongol and his band will provide special music at Albany ARC’s Mexi-Cali Party on Thursday. The event benefits a local preschool and will offer food and prizes for attendees.

Another feature is the "Two Tickets to Paradise" raffle drawing. Just 250 tickets are being sold to give a couple of ARC supporters an opportunity to spend four nights in California. The "California Dreamer" package includes two round-trip tickets to California.

The lucky raffle winner will have two nights in San Francisco and two nights in Sonoma, in addition to two vineyard tours.

"The Mexi-Cali party will benefit the Albany ARC preschool that serves typical and atypical children," Albany ARC Development Director Laura Calhoun said. "It's the only one of its kind in the area.

"Autism is on the rise. Premature babies often experience developmental delays, and children born with disabilities all need and deserve to get the specialized instruction we provide in an inclusive environment.

"By purchasing a ticket, you will help us meet the challenge and continue to grow."

Tickets to the event start at $25 and include dinner, two drink tickets and participation in the silent auction.

For $75, tickerholders get the same items plus two drink tickets and one raffle ticket for the California trip.

The $100 tickets expand the offering to include a wine-tasting from 6 p.m.-7 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased online at albanyarc.org or at either ARC office, including 2626 Pointe North Blvd. or 3005 Old Dawson Road. For more information, call (229) 888-6852.

Calhoun says there are several creative and valuable offerings in the silent auction. They include Florida beach vacations in Panama City Beach, Destin and Cape San Blast, a limo trip for six to eight people for 10 hours within a 200-mile radius of Albany, a one-year mosquito contract, a street bike and a neon Miller Lite sign.

Also to be auctioned are more traditional treats such as manicures and pedicures, massages, tools and restaurant gift cards.